Individually adjustable sleeping equipment



Sept. 5, 1967 M. N. JANAPOL 3,339,214

INDIVIDUALLY ADJUSTABLE SLEEPING EQUIPMENT Filed April 28, 1966INVENTOR.

M51. w/v /I JANA/90L.

Asmr

United States Patent 3,339,214 INDIVIDUALLY ADJUSTABLE SLEEPINGEQUIPMENT Melvin N. Janapol, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to WortsoCorporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Apr.28, 1966, Ser. No. 545,916 12 Claims. (Cl. --243) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This invention is concerned with bedding or the like andparticularly with box spring used and provided with underlying supportbeneath a mattress upon which a person is to lie, and relates broadly'toany furniture of this nature upon which a person is to sit or liewhether an overlying mattress is used or not.

A scientific approach has been made to control the posture of the humanform in a reclining position upon bedding, and it has been found thatbeneficial results can be obtained by using certain specified springpressures at certain specified areas of the bedding. Because the statureof the human form is characterized by curvatures that vary from personto person and which also vary as a result of injuries and defects, it isnot possible to design and build a single bedding unit suitable for all.On the contrary, each individual person will .require a certainprescribed springing if proper support is to be expected throughout thelength of the reclining body. Although various reclining positions arecontemplated, for purpose of illustration a normal reclining positionupon the back or posterior is to be considered. Obviously, thereclining'body has protrusions and indentations, and it has portionsheavier than others. Generally, these variations in stature occurlongitudinally of the reclining body.

Although variable tension at different areas is obtainable with theprior art and with the structure of my previous patent, there areshortcomings in said previous efforts which render them commerciallyunattractive. Generally speaking, the prior art does not contemplate theapplication of adjustment to individual rows of spring coils, and myprevious patent structure presents structural complexities which areimpractical from a commercial viewpoint when comparison is made to thepresent invention. The characteristic features of such a box-spring isthe height adjustment for the spring support and which involvesselectively insertable blocks. In the use of such blocks for thispurpose retention in working position is a primary requirement, and tothis end my prior construction involves steps and shoulders and whichresults in complex blocks etc. and specially peculiar configurations.Needless to say, special and complex shapes are costly and therefore arecommercially prohibitive. Further, the height limiting means as it isnow disclosed is greatly improved and imposes certain requirements whichare now integrated in the hardware which characterizes the instantdisclosure. In other words, in addition to the problem of maintainingplacement of the adjustment blocks there is the problem of installingthe height limiting means, and it is a general object of this inventionto prov1de a most practical unit of hardware combined in a box-spring ofthe type hereinabove referred to that serves a multitude of purposes;that is, to guide both the spring support and height limiting meanstherefor, to maintain both the spring support and height limiting meanswithin operating limits, to locate both spring adjustment blocks andheight limiting depressor blocks in working positions, and to secureboth said blocks in said working positions.

An object of this invention is to provide a most practical unit ofhardware to be combined with both a spring support and height limitingmeans therefor and whereby specified and prescribed spring pressures andheights can be individually set. There are adjacently related areas thatextend transversely of the bedding, and each of said areas will underliea designated portion of the persons body which is to lie therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a boxspring whichpresents a simulated spring supported bedboard wherein each row ofsprings supports an individual height limited bed-slat over which a pador mattress is extended for cushioned support of a persons body.

It is still another object of this inventionto provide a box-spring ofthe character referred to wherein both the spring pressures and heightlimits are established by dimensionally prescribed and simply formedblock-shaped elements that are inserted into working position and heldthereby the spring pressures that are set thereby. Further both thespring support and the bedboard slats are biased into working position,the slats being individually depressible upon the application of Weightthereto.

The various objects and features of this invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of the typicalpreferred form and application thereof, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: I

FIG. is a perspective view of the box-spring and mattress combination,with a portion of the mattress broken away and thereby showing thefeatures of the box-spring. FIGS. 2and '3 are longitudinal andtransverse sectional views taken as indicated by lines 22 and 33 on FIG.1 respectively, each with a portion of the mattress broken away toexpose the box-spring.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the structureshowing the hardware which characterizes the present invention, and FIG.5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the structure shownin'FIG. 4;

This invention has to do with sleeping equipment which is initiallymanufactured for general use and in which the combination'of elements isthen accessible to be accurately completed by the insertion therein ofprescription elements according to precise requirements. To these endstherefore the instant bedding is assembled, as a partially completedconstruction, being characterized byits permanent assembly withoutremovable parts and in a form receptive to the prescription elementswhich are inserted according to precise observations and correspondingrequirements so as to complete the said box-spring. Further, it isabedding unit characterized by a hard positionable and depressibleunderlying surface, unique in that said surface is made up ofindependently operable transverse areas that are individually yielding.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings I have'shown the combination of a box-spring Xand an overlying mattress M. It is to be understood that the presentinvention is applicable to other like units of construction used tounderlie padding for the support of a person, and the box-spring X mayor may not be covered by a padding and/or ticking T which is indicated.As it is illustrated, the boxspring X involves, generally, a frame A,one or more sets of spring coils B, a support C for each set of springcoils B, height limiting means D for the coils B, a position selectionmeans E for setting the efiectiveness of each set of spring coils B anda position selection means F for placement of the height limiting meansD; and all of which underlies the mattress M.

The frame A is the supporting structure that carries the sets of springcoils B and it is of the desired shape as circumstances require. Thesets of spring coils B can vary in number and arrangement and they arepreferably in a series disposed transversely of the frame A. The supportC and height limiting means D are cooperatively related to the sets ofspring coils B, there being a complementary set of means C and D foreach set of coils B.

The supporting frame A can be a simple rectangular structure having siderails 10, a foot rail 11, and a head rail 12. As shown, the rails 10, 11and 12 are alike in that each is a flat elongate member disposed in avertical plane and one right-angularly related to the other. Thus, theframe A is a four-cornered structure with parallel side rails 10, eachrail having a bottom edge 15 and an upper edge 16.

The sets of spring coils B are usual in that they are in a straightalignment that extends between the side rails 10. However, the sets ofspring coils B are unusual in that they are arranged in spaced grouprelationship, as shown. As is preferred, there are two spaced groups ofspring coils with two springs 17 in each group, each grouping beingpositioned at or near the ends of the spring supports C and means D thatwill be later described. The number of individual coils can vary, fourcoils being shown, and each is a helically wound spring 17 disposed on avertical axis. The top and bottom ends 18 and 19 of the springs 17 areclosed and are round and in a plane normal to the axes of the springs.

The spring support C extends transversely between the side rails at thebottom edge thereof. The spring support C is a straight board-like andsubstantially rigid member adapted to withstand the compressive forcesof the combined springs 17 of the sets of spring coils B. As shown, thesprings 17 are seated with their round bottom ends 19 received inarcuate channels 26 in the spring support. The spring support C is aslat-shaped member narrower than the diameter of the spring ends, thesaid arcuate channels 26 being formed about a common center at 27. Thetop ends 18 of the springs 17 are received in a like manner in the bodyparts of the slat-shaped member of the means D later described. The ends18 and/or 19 are anchored as by fasteners driven into place with theheads thereof overlying the spring end.

The height limiting means D extends transversely between the side rails10 at the top edge 16 thereof. The height limiting means D is a straightboard-like and substantially rigid member adapted to withstand thecompressive forces of the combined springs 17 of the set of spring coilsB. As shown, the springs 17 are seated with and their round top ends 18received in arcuate channels 36 in the slat-shaped member which, likethe spring support C is narrower than the diameter of the spring ends.In accordance with the invention the slat-shaped member of the heightlimiting means are contoured as at 28 where such a configuration isdictated by requirement. It is contemplated that there will be naturalbody protrusions as well as artificial enlargements requiring localclearances, and these are accommodated for in the relief afforded byforming the suitable contours as at 28. Said contours at 28 arerecessions in the normally straight and horizontal top planes of theindividual slat-shaped members.

With the construction thus far described it will be apparent that eacharea to be sprung is characterized by transversely disposed rows ofsprings 17 fastened between like slat-shaped elements C and D. In thepreferred form, the spring supports C and height limiting means D areessentially identical parts, being made of straight and stifi woodenpieces of the same cross sectional and length dimensions. As shown, theelements C and D are extended beyond the opposite and endmost springs ofthe series and terminate in normally disposed and flat ends 25 and 35that move closely within the confines of the rails 10 and 11. Further,the height limiting means D is related to the frame so as to permitpositioning thereof by the extension of the springs 17 to apredetermined height,

normally at or coincidental with the top edges of the frame A.Therefore, in actual practice the row of spring coils B tends to extendthe means C and D to positions above and below the top 16 and bottom 15of the frame, respectively.

With the bedding structure thus far described there are adjacentlyrelated transverse areas in a series extending longitudinally of theframe A. As shown, the padding and/or mattress M overlies all of theseareas, and there is a set of spring coils B, or the like underlying andestablishing each area to be tensioned to the desired firmness.Accordingly, I provide the means E to selectively position the springsupports C, and I provide the means F to selectively depress the heightlimiting means D, whereby then each of said areas can be fixed both asto position and bias according to prescription.

The position selection means E for the spring supports C is reduced tothe simplest form and involves tensioning elements in the form ofrectangular blocks 50 individually positioning the spring supports C. Incarrying out the invention each side rail 10 is provided with a flangeand the downward pressure exerted by the spring coils B urges theterminal end portions of the spring supports C into pressured engagementwith said flanges with the block 50 of means E inserted therebetween soas to establish the desired height. The blocks 50 are alike, althougheach is of a prescribed height L. Generally, the blocks 50 are simplerectangular solid elements, or the equivalent, with a flat bottom 55 toseat on said flange and with a flat top 56 to engage and carry thespring supports C. Thus, by inserting blocks 50 of prescribed height Lthe firmness at predetermined areas can be accurately controlled to meetwith the preciseness of a prescription, and it is a simple matter toremove and replace any block 50 with another block 50 of differentspecified height L. As shown, the blocks 50 have opposite sides 60spaced the same distance as are the sides of the slat members thatcomprise the mean C and D.

The position selection means F for placement of the height limitingmeans D is also reduced to the simplest form and involves depressorelements in the form of rectangular blocks 50' individually positioningthe slatshaped mattress supporting members. The blocks 50 are like theblocks 50 hereinabove described, although dimensionally the prescribedheight L thereof will be individual. Generally, the blocks 50' aresimple rectangular solid elements, or the equivalent, with a fiat top56' urged into pressured seating on the upper flange and with a flatbottom to bear against the slat-shaped member of the height limitingmeans. Thus, by inserting the blocks 50' of prescribed height Laccurately controlled and predetermined depression of the individualslat-shaped members can be accomplished to meet the preciseness of aprescription. It is then a simple matter to remove and replace any block50 with another block 50 of different specified height L.

In accordance with this invention I provide means H in the form of aunit of hardware that serves multi purposes as is hereinabove set forth.Specifically, the means H is a vertical guide means for both of theslat-shaped elements of means C and D and limits their movementsrelative to each other and to the frame A, and the means H receives andholds the block 50 as Well as the block 50' in working positions. As isshown, the means H is an open box-like member 70 that fastens to theframe A at the interior of the rail 10 to engageably receive theterminal end portions of the elements C and D. The said terminal endelements C and D are vertically spaced and also move vertically relativeto each other, in which case the member 70 is a vertically disposedmember. In carrying out the invention, the box-like member 70 has a flatwall 71 that is secured flat against the inside of rail it has a pair ofspaced and parallel guide walls 72 normal to the first mentioned wall71, and it has a pair of spaced and parallel stop walls 73 also normalto the first mentioned wall 71. The wall 71 is secured to the rail 10 byfasteners 74 as shown. The guide walls 72 are vertically disposed andspaced so as to permit free movement of the end portions of the elementsC and D therebetween. And, the stop walls 73 are horizontally disposed,the upper stop wall limiting upward movement of the height limitingmeans D and the lower stop wall furnishing the said flange support forthe block 50 in order for said block to carry the spring support C.

The box-like member 70 as it is above described is readily made of sheetmetal, or it may be a molded part or otherwise formed into the rail 10,and a pair of openly oposed members 70 is employed to receive andlimitedly guide the opposite end portions of the two spaced elements Cand D. Thus, the pair of opposed members 70 is installed in verticalalignment, after which the elements C and D are entered therein andinitially captured in working position as by turning down of the upperstop wall 73 to the position shown. The upper stop wall 73 is in theplane of the upper edge 16.

In accordance with the invention, the block 50 of prescribed height isinserted between the spring support C and within the confines of theguide walls 72. Said block 50 is engaged fiat against the wall 71 and sothat its bottom 55 rests fiat upon the lower stop wall 73. The block 50of prescribed height is inserted between the height limiting means D andwithin the confines of the guide walls 72. Said block 50' is engagedfiat against the wall 71 and so that its top 56' bears flat upon theupper stop wall 73. As is shown, there is an upstanding projection 75 atboth the lower and upper stop wall 73 and each of which is sharpened. soasto penetrate into the block 50, and block 50' respectively, therebypinning the blocks in working position when they are forced intoengagement upon the stop wall.73 bythe spring pressure that is normallyexerted.'Thus, the top 56 of the block 50 is accurately po sitioned inorder to support the spring support C, and the top of the slat-shapedmember of the height limiting means D is accurately depressed, all asprescribed.

The box spring X hereinabove described is initially completed as setforth, with the plurality of transversely disposed spring coils B,springsupports C and limiting means D maintained in assembled form by themeans H. In said initially completed form the spring coils B urge thespring supports C into engagement with the lower stop wall 73 andsubject to elevation therefrom by the insertion of the blocks 50 ofprescribed height. Independently, the spring coils B urge the heightlimiting means D into engagement with the upper stop wall 73 and subjectto depression therefrom by the insertion of the blocks 50' of prescribedheight. Independently prescribed compression is applied to each set ofspring coils B and so that each transversely disposed area of thebox-spring X can have a specified firmness. And, independentlyprescribed depression is applied to the height limiting means D if andwhen desired and so that each transversely disposed area occurs in therequired plane of normal support.

In accordance with the invention the mattress M is combined with the boxspring X to removably enclose and upholster the same. To this end, themattress M is unique by the inclusion of a depending skirt 80 attachedthereto by means of an underlying coupling panel 85. The skirt 80 isfashioned so as to encompass the frame A and its sections of ticking Tthat coextensively overlies the rails 10, 11 and 12. The lower marginaledge 81 of the skirt 80 coincides with the bottom 16 of the frame, alongwhich edge the skirt is fastened to the frame as by means of a series ofsnaps 82 having detented engagement with mating buttons 83 mounted onthe frame. The coupling panel 85 overlies and is engaged upon theslat-shaped members of the means D and is joined to the upper marginaledge 86 of the skirt as by means of sewing. In carrying out theinvention the panel is joined to the bottom face 87 of the mattress M bya continuous ring of sewing 88 spaced inwardly and equidistantly fromthe outside edge of the mattress. Thus, when relating the mattress M tothe panel 85 there is a deep inwardly extended fold into which thebedding covers can be projected, while the mattress M remains attachedand in a centered position with respect to the box-spring X.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a commercially attractivebox-spring and mattress is provided and wherein the inserted blocks 50and 50' of prescribed height are properly located and held in workingposition. Each trans versely disposed area overlying a set of springcoils B will have an accurately placed slat-shaped member biased to aspecified firmness as precisely dictated by prescription, and as aresult of installing sets of prescribed blocks 50 and 50' at oppositeterminal end portions of the spring supports C a very practical andserviceable box-spring is provided. Each transverse area of theoverlying mattress M will then have its specified position and firmnessof support, and if necessary both position and firmness can be alteredby replacing said blocks with blocks of more suitable height, allwithout destroying or in any way altering the box-spring X as it isinitially constructed. Access for completion and/ or alteration of thebox-spring and mattress combination is afforded by the removability ofthe mattress M from the box-spring X as it is made possible by the skirt80 and coupling panel 85 without hindrance to the normal bed makingprocedures.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anymodifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the artand fall within the scope of the following claims:

7 Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A box-spring for the support of mattress padding and comprising, aframe with side rails and a plurality of sets of independently effectivespring coils with an adjustably positionable support therefor and with aheight limiting means yieldingly carried thereby, each of said sets ofspring coils comprising at least a pair of laterally spaced springs withtheir lower and upper ends engaged yieldingly against the said supportand height limiting means respectively, and there being opposed membersat the opposite side rails respectively and each of said membersincluding a vertical guide means engageably receiving both said supportand said height limiting means to align the same and direct thedepression of the latter against said spring coils.

2. A box-spring as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said membersincludes lower and upper stops at the guide means limiting theextensibility of the said support and said height limiting means.

3. A bOX-spring as set forth in claim 1 wherein the opposed members areinwardly opened box-shaped members with parallel side walls to form saidguide means and vertically spaced end walls extended therebetween toform said upper and lower stops.

4. A box-spring as set forth in claim 1 wherein the opposed members areinwardly opened box-shaped members with parallel side walls to form saidguide means and vertically spaced end walls extended therebetween toform said upper and lower stops, and wherein there is at least oneselective pair of blocks of prescribed height inserted into the saidopposed members respectively and engaged with the lower stop thereof inorder to raise the support and thereby bias the set of spring coils asprescribed.

5. A box-spring as set forth in claim 1 wherein the opposed members areinwardly opened box-shaped members with parallel side walls to form saidguide means and vertically spaced end walls extended therebetween toform said upper and lower stops, and wherein there is at least oneselective pair of blocks of prescribed height inserted into the saidopposed members respectively and engaged with the upper stop thereof inorder to depress the height limiting means against the set of springcoils as prescribed.

6. A box-spring for the support of a mattress padding and comprising, aframe with side rails and a plurality of sets of independently effectivespring coils with an adjustably positionable support therefor and with aheight limiting means yieldingly carried thereby, each of said sets ofspring coils comprising at least a pair of laterally spaced springs withtheir lower and upper ends engaged yieldingly against the said supportand height limiting means respectively, there being opposed inwardlyopened box-shaped members at the opposite side rails respectively andeach of said members including a vertical guide means formed by spacedparallel Walls to shiftably receive both the said support and saidheight limiting means and having vertically spaced end walls extendedtherebetween to form lower and upper stops, and there being selectivelyinsertable blocks of prescribed height engaged with the stops of theopposed members respectively in order to position the said support andheight limiting means at prescribed spring compressing height anddepressed height respectively.

7. A box-spring as set forth in claim 6 wherein the said blocks areconfined to a working position for carrying the said support by theconfined engagement therewith between said spaced parallel walls thatform the guide means.

8. A box-spring as set forth in claim 6 wherein said blocks are capturedin a working position by an upstanding projection piercing the saidblocks and thereby retaining them in said working position,

9. A box-spring as set forth in claim 6 wherein, the said blocks arepositioned for carrying the said support and said height limiting meansby the confined engagement therewith between said spaced parallel wallsthat form the guide means, and said blocks are captured in said workingposition by an upstanding projection extended from the spaced end wallsforming the lower and upper stops to pierce the said blocks and therebyretaining them in said work-ing position.

10. A prescription box-spring and mattress for individual prescriptionadjustment, including a box-spring comprising, a frame with side railsand a plurality of sets of independently effective spring coils with anadjustably positionable support therefor and with a height limitingmeans yieldingly carried thereby, each of said sets of spring coilscomprising at least a pair of laterally spaced springs with their lowerand upper ends engaged yieldingly against the said support and heightlimiting means respectively, and there being guide means at the oppositeside rails aligning the said support with and shiftably engaging theheight limiting means for depression against said spring coils, andcomprising a coextensive overlying mattress having a depending skirtencompassing the rails of the frame and attached thereto.

11. A prescription box-spring and mattress as set forth in claim 10wherein, there are insertable blocks of prescribed height to be engagedat the side rails and selectively positioning the said support andheight limiting means as prescribed, and said skirt is releasablyattached to the side rails for accessibility to the box-spring byremoval of the same, for adjustment thereto by insertion of saidprescribed blocks.

12. A prescription box-spring and mattress as set forth in claim 10wherein, the said skirt is joined to the mattress by means of a panelextended inward from the skirt and attached to the bottom face of themattress spaced inward of the rails of the frame and therebyestablishing deep folds for the tucking in of bed coverings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 65,964 6/ 1867 Thompson 5243131,034 9/1872 Spencer 5239 X 2,985,895 5/1961 Bloom 5248 3,059,24910/1962 Kamp 5246 3,126,554 3/1964 Janapol 5243 3,252,170 5/1966 Frye52A8 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A BOX-SPRING FOR THE SUPPORT OF MATTRESS PADDING AND COMPRISING, AFRAME WITH SIDE RAILS AND A PLURALITY OF SETS OF INDEPENDENTLY EFFECTLYSPRING COILS WITH AN ADJUSTABLY POSITIONABLE SUPPORT THEREFOR AND WITH AHEIGHT LIMITING MEANS YIELDINGLY CARRIED THEREBY, EACH OF SAID SETS OFSPRING COILS COMPRISING AT LEAST A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED SPRINGS WITHTHEIR LOWER AND UPPER ENDS ENGAGED YIELDINGLY AGAINST THE SAID BEINGOPPOSED MEMBERS AT MEANS RESPECTIVELY, AND THERE BEING OPPOSED MEMBERSAT THE OPPOSITE SIDE RAILS RESPECTIVELY AND EACH OF SAID MEMBERSINCLUDING A VERTICAL GUIDE MEANS ENGAGEABLY RECEIVING BOTH SAID SUPPORTAND HEIGHT LIMITING MEANS TO ALIGN THE SAME AND DIRECT THE DEPRESSION OFTHE LATTER AGAINST SAID SPRING COILS.